I have been studying my skunk family for 10 years now. They never spray me. They know if I see they are out of food I cheerfully say, “Mommy’s coming.”

I open the door and bring refills. But I was wondering if they hibernate like bears. I don’t see them as much in the winter. But I have seen them cross the snow occasionally and visit me for a meal. So I looked it up. Well, bears hibernate for five or six months, but skunks go into a state of torpor. They have trees or burrows or under your porch to live. Their metabolism and temperature slow down.

Then I realized, heck, I have been going into a state of torpor since I was five years old. Oh, sure, I got up to go to school and church. As I got older I would stay up if I had a basketball game after school, but that was about it. Excuse me while I go into my state of torpor.

I had the best looking and kindest people visit me at 5:58 a.m. today. Thank you to our police department and emergency medical responders. Apparently I put my MedicAlert on an end table while I was watching the Patriots game Monday night. My cat Misty was doing her nighttime prowls. She knocked it off and summoned the care team.

And how about our Pats? Are we back yet? Great game, no heart attack on my end. Not even close.

Allen and Eileen Bemus had their son here for Thanksgiving but daughter Meredith could not get here because of her work schedule in Maryland. The Bemuses expect to have a Christmas in Connecticut, my favorite movie.

Roberta Kirn will be leading two community sings next weekend, Saturday and Sunday at the Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center. Multi-talented Roberta also has her 2026 calendars for sale. They fund her community vocal projects. The photos are stunning, all taken by Roberta herself. I gave three as gifts last season. I kept the fourth for myself. No state of torpor for Roberta.

The birthday bandwagon pulled along Talia Leuning on Nov. 24; Cam LaPierre celebrated on Nov. 25; Morningstar Healy partied on Dec. 1; and on Dec. 7 Larry Bird takes the cake. Many happy returns.